Fusion Magazine, Spring 2020 by Fusion Magazine

FUSION Kent State's LGBTQ+ Magazine

Queer People of Color Sexy Safety

Gays? In The Country?

Safety First Stickers Inside!

SPRING 2020

WWW.OHIOFUSION.COM

SAFETY FIRST ISSUE

What's Inside Are You There, God?

Then & Now

Out of the Shadows

Don't Panic. It's Still Me.

Out There

At The Border

Treating Patients With Pride

Sappho

Where Worship Meets The Community

A Guide To HIV/AIDS

Casting Light On Violence In Our Community

Exploring The Panic Defense

Studying Abroad As A Queer Person

The Challenges Of Seeking Safety

Local Inclusive Care

Island of Lesbos

Voices

Letters & Stories From The Community

QPOC

Queer People of Color

Gays? In the Country?

Sexy Safety

FUSION SPRING 2020

Meet The Staff Masterminds Alexandra Sobczak

Moira Armstrong

Angela Molina

Stephen Francis

K Bodrock

Amanda Stayer

Lindsay Adams

Emily Loccisano

Julia O' Laughlin

Alyssa Maziarz

Abigail Silvis

Natalia Cruz

Editor in Chief

Marketing Director

Managing Editor

Assistant Art Director

Senior Editor

Social Media Guru

Art Director

Designer/Illustrator

Photo Editor

Designer/Illustrator

Writer

Student Media Office

Contributors

Kevin Dilley

David Burgett – Words Lyndsey Brennan – Words Thomas Chimney – Photos David Sparling – Words Abigail Bottar – Copy Editor

Director of Student Media

Bruce Zake

Fusion Advisor

Tami Bongiorni

Assistant Director of Student Media

Kalib Kiser Writer

Emily Adorno Beat Reporter

Riley Turner

Beat Reporter

Jim Hurguy

Media Specialist

Norma Young

Business Manager

Lori Bednar

Office Manager

To advertise with us contact: ads@ksustudentmedia.com or 330-672-2586

A Letter from the Editor Dear Readers,

elcome to our Spring 2020 issue. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the May 4, 1970 shootings on Kent State’s campus, we decided to focus on something that we should never take for granted - our safety. All of our stories are loosely tied together with the concept of safety in mind. Where are we, as a community, safe? This is a big question, and it can be considered in a variety of different ways - within different communities, in our homes, across the globe, within our own relationships and identities. We are privileged to be able to put these thoughts down on paper, and we hope that this issue makes some people out there feel a little less alone. Our staff has shown passion and dedication to this publication that cannot go unrecognized. This semester has only gotten crazier as it has gone on, but the Fusion team didn’t flinch. They continued to step up to

the plate, their talents continually paying off. Their rich creativity, vast knowledge and constant willingness to bravely put themselves out there never fail to amaze me. It goes without saying that this would not be possible without them, but they still deserve to hear all the gratitude I am able to send their way. I also want to thank all of the mentors I have had throughout my college career that led me to this point. If anyone would have told me as a freshman in college that I would someday have the privilege of being the Editor of a magazine, as well as be able to facilitate the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues, I wouldn’t have believed them. At that point, I wasn’t even out. But now, surrounded by some of the best people in the world, I feel safe. I hope you enjoy the stories we have to tell. As a community, and as allies, we must tear down gates and help lift each other up. As always, we are strongest together.

Alexandra Sobczak Editor in Chief

FUSION SPRING 2020

rural & out

In The Country?

Words by Angela Molina Photos by K Bodrock

new rainbow wave is sweeping the United States, rising from the unusual epicenter of South Bend, Indiana. Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the Democratic presidential primaries in March 2020, but he holds the unique distinction of being the first openly gay person to launch a presidential campaign and win the Iowa caucus. Buttigieg hails from Indiana, a Midwestern state that does not offer discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ citizens, according to Equaldex. He is far from the only queer person to come from a rural background. Celebrities Megan Fox, Alice Walker and Laverne Cox all came from similar communities. It is a common belief that queer people live almost exclusively in

urban areas. While cities such as San Francisco, California and Portland, Oregon feature higher–than– average queer populations, 15% to 20% of the total U.S. LGBTQ+ population can be found in rural areas, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) reports. Between 2.9 million and 3.8 million LGBTQ+ people live in rural areas in the United States, MAP found in its 2019 report, “Where We Call Home: LGBT People in Rural America.” Many people in these communities face unique challenges. In rural areas, there are fewer LGBTQ+ organizations and services available. Many may find themselves isolated within their communities. Jacob Dudley, a senior peace and conflict studies major at Kent State University, says there was not much of a queer presence in

his hometown of Rootstown, Ohio. “There aren’t any queer spaces there,” he says. “It’s just there happens to be some LGBTQ+ students and people living in Rootstown.” Although Rootstown lacks these spaces, Kent is a short drive away. Many rural communities, however, are distant from each other, and this presents challenges to queer people who lack the ability to travel long distances. Even when a queer person can find the means to travel, the problems do not end there. According to MAP, queer communities in rural areas may have a more difficult time finding the finances, staffing and community support necessary to maintain LGBTQ+ organizations at all.

FUSION SPRING 2020 Some states do not even have a single center. MAP reveals that Minnesota, West Virginia, North Dakota and Louisiana lack any LGBTQ+ community centers. Lack of services can be especially detrimental to queer youth in rural areas. A survey by MAP of 120 LGBTQ+ centers in the United States found that 83% had specific programming for queer youth. Queer youth are even more vulnerable to the isolating effects of rural communities than adults. While MAP found that there is “limited evidence that LGBT youth in rural communities experience more family rejection” compared to urban LGBTQ+ youth, they still face different challenges when they come out. Parents of queer youth, for example, may have less access to resources, and youth who do face rejection, such as in school, may have fewer alternatives available to them.

According to MAP, queer students are also more likely than their cisgender, heterosexual peers to report being bullied based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. University of Akron student Megan Parker, a senior communications major, identifies as pansexual and says some friends were unsupportive of her coming out. After confiding in a friend while in middle school in Mohicanville, Ohio, Parker says that “it ruined our friendship.” “She actually dropped me out of her life,” Parker says. GLSEN, an education-based organization dedicated to supporting queer youth,

8 8

found in its report, “The 2017 National School Climate Survey,” that 59.5% of queer students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 44.6% of students felt unsafe because of their gender identity. The study concluded that queer students in rural schools faced a more hostile school climate than in urban or suburban schools. Additionally, MAP cites that the social and political climate of rural America exposes queer people to more discrimination. Rural states are more likely to lack discrimination protections for queer people, and they are less likely to be represented in local governments. Kent State alum Bee, who asked to be referred to by their nickname only, says that queer people in their home community, which they asked to remain unnamed, were often unfairly targeted as scapegoats. While Bee generally found a climate of indifference towards queer people in their community, backlash against queer individuals could be swift and severe, akin to a witch hunt, if unfortunate events occurred. “It’s like there would be an explosion,” they say. Bee recounted an instance in which an older lesbian couple that lived in a nearby town experienced a personal tragedy. They say that a church leader in the same town blamed the couple for their loss, claiming that this was what happened when they “let these people into the community.” Often, queer people in rural communities who are out may experience a phenomenon known as “increased visibility.” Increased visibility, as stated by MAP, means that in areas with lower populations, individuals who are different more easily stand out and are more vulnerable to discrimination. According to Bee, queer individuals in their community often waited until they moved away to come out to lessen potential backlash.

“It was just something you didn’t talk about,” they say. Even in the community they currently live in, Bee experiences hostility from strangers who suspect they may be queer. In spite of these challenges, queer people may forge support systems and experience positive outcomes. Support from friends and family can alleviate the challenges of discrimination and isolation. For Parker, her family was very supportive of her coming out. “Most of my family on my mom’s side was my support system,” Parker says. Parker has attended Akron Pride for the past two years and marched with her mother’s side of the family both years. Others, such as Bee, carved out their own spaces. After putting up a Pride display in the library they work at, Bee was approached by young people in their town who wanted to start a support group for queer people. Now, in their small town of 3,000, they lead a group that meets twice a month at the library. Helping create the space makes them feel good, Bee says, and that teenagers in the area know that they are supported. Similarly, Dudley wishes to create a Gay Straight Alliance in his community. “I think it’s important to give young people – not even LGBTQ young people, but young people in general – a space to meet and interact with the community,” he says. Dudley hopes that a GSA will give queer youth a space to feel accepted, find resources, connect with others and get a better sense of the community. The experiences of queer people in rural areas are as wide and varied as the community itself. Despite unique difficulties, many queer people find a home for themselves in rural areas for many of the same reasons cisgender and heterosexual individuals do. Bee points out that queer people should not always feel they must flee their rural communities. They say, “Find your niche and own it.”

"MAP reveals that Minnesota, West Virginia, North Dakota and Louisiana lack any LGBTQ+ community centers." 9

God? FUSION SPRING 2020

Are You There,

Where Worship Meets The Community Words by Moira Armstrong and Angela Molina Photos by Amanda Stayer

here is a common misconception that the LGBTQ+ community and religion are like oil and water – they do not mix. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 29% of respondents have been made to feel unwelcome in a place of worship because they are LGBTQ+. Despite this, a 2014 Gallup poll found that 49% of LGBTQ+ adults considered religion to be an important part of their lives. Like cisgender, heterosexual individuals, LGBTQ+ people may choose a religious path for any number of reasons, including spiritual fulfillment and a sense of community. Fusion writers spoke to several local faith-based organizations, including local places of worship and Kent State student organizations. Here is what they have to say.

“A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 29% of respondents have been made to feel unwelcome in a place of worship because they are LGBTQ+”

FUSION SPRING 2020

Hillel While the Jewish faith approaches LGBTQ+ issues in many ways, Rabbi Michael Ross, the senior Jewish educator for Hillel at Kent State, says that “the primary ideal” upheld in Judaism is to “remember that oppression is always terrible.” In remembrance of the faith’s history of deliverance from Egypt, he says that the Jewish faith attempts to acknowledge and affirm other marginalized groups. Ross says there are several LGBTQ+ synagogues in the United States that “sit at the cutting edge of creativity and artistry” and “push new ways of understanding Jewish prayer … and ritual.” One such attempt at understanding, Ross says, is the adaptation of Jewish wedding ceremonies to include same-sex couples. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Reform Judaism, which is the largest Jewish denomination in the United States, has been practicing same-sex weddings since 2000.

United Church of Christ “Open and affirming” is how Church Administrator Leah Davis describes the Kent United Church of Christ’s stance and atmosphere in regards to the LGBTQ+ community. After the national United Church of Christ, which is a denomination of Christian Protestantism, adopted this policy in 1985, the local association of churches decided to as well. “Not every church follows it,” Davis says, but Kent UCC has embraced the ideology. The church has had LGBTQ+ members, leaders on councils and committees and even programming, as the Kent PFLAG chapter meets there.

Black Squirrel Coven Black Squirrel Coven, Kent State’s student organization for those who practice paganism, Wicca and witchcraft, is in a unique situation: The organization has no established policy on LGBTQ+ issues or members, but there is only one official straight member in the on-campus organization. “We’re pretty much all in the community, so we just welcome everybody,” says Phoenix Leach, a sophomore zoology major and the organization’s president. “There’s a lot of inclusivity.”

Latter-Day Saint Student Association The Latter-Day Saint Student Association (LDSSA), a Kent State student organization, is based upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. LDSSA supplements students’ secular education with religious lessons from missionaries associated with the Church. LDSSA President Devin Gilbert says, “Our Church doctrine is that everyone is welcome and that every single one of us is a child of God.” Despite this, traditionally, the Church has not supported LGBTQ+ rights and only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. Official policy states that LGBTQ+ individuals who wish to remain in the Church must be celibate. However, the New York Times reports that a 2019 policy change allows children of same-sex couples to be baptized into the Church, though the Church will continue to not recognize same-sex marriages. Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families, and Friends is a national organization for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who are members or former members of the Church. This organization is not affiliated with the Church.

Leach says they try to provide a safe space to celebrate and practice often-judged belief systems, as well as educate their members.

University Parish Newman Center The Human Rights Campaign reports that the Catholic Church does not formally accept the LGBTQ+ community. Same-sex marriage is not recognized, relationships are discouraged and gender is considered assigned at birth. However, Veronica Victoria, a campus ministry intern at the University Parish Newman Center, explains that her approach is based on John 13:34 - “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” While she did not know specifically of church members or leaders who are part of the community, she noted that other churches might and that she would welcome and support anyone who followed church creed. If there was a need, she would also consider creating programming on LGBTQ+ issues, she says.

Then & Now FUSION SPRING 2020

A Guide to HIV/AIDS

Words by Kalib Kiser & Angela Molina Infographic Information Sourced From hiv.gov HIV/AIDS has occupied a fearful space in the minds of many for over 40 years - and for good reason. In 1979 and 1980, doctors in Los Angeles and New York treated an increasing number of cases involving rare forms of pneumonia, cancer and other deadly illnesses. Then, in 1983, the virus causing these ailments was discovered, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic was in full swing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that since then, nearly 700,000 people have died of HIV/ AIDS in the United States alone. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), gay and bisexual men account for only 2%

of the U.S. population but make up nearly 55% of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. The HRC also reports that if current rates of diagnosis continue, 1 in 6 gay and bisexual men will be living with HIV in their lifetime. This prediction is even higher for Latino and black men, which is projected to be 1 in 4 and 1 in 2, respectively. Although manageable treatment is becoming increasingly available, a cure to the virus has yet to be found. Despite this, HIV/AIDS has become yesterday’s epidemic for many in the affluent world. Several decades worth of drug development produced medications that allow many to continue living normal lives.

1980 June 1981

CDC’s “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” details “five young, white, previously healthy gay men” from Los Angeles whose immune systems are not working. This has been referred to as the first reporting of the AIDS epidemic.

January 1982

The Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) is founded in New York City. It is the “first community-based AIDS service provider in the U.S.” Other AIDS activism groups, such as the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACTUP), are founded in the following years.

However, HIV/AIDS still claims many lives. The CDC reports that since the beginning of the global pandemic in 1981, 77.3 million people contracted HIV and 35.4 million died of AIDS-related illnesses. How is it possible that such a deadly disease with no cure lost its hold on the public’s attention? Today, the terms HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) are mistakenly used interchangeably. AIDS is the final stage of the overall HIV infection. HIV is the virus. It has no cure and, without treatment, can severely weaken the immune system. According to the CDC, it attacks

1990 September 1983

The CDC determines all major causes of transmission of AIDS, including unprotected sex, intravenous drug use, mother-to-child transmission and blood transfusions.

March 1987

1994

AIDS “becomes the leading cause of death for all Americans ages 25 to 44.”

The FDA approves the first medical treatment for AIDS. The antiretroviral drug, zidovudine (AZT), was “initially developed to treat cancer.”

the body’s T-cells, and, if left untreated, the virus can destroy so many of these cells that the body cannot fight off infections. AIDS itself does not kill. It is the contraction of another illness while the immune system is ineffective that leads to death, the CDC reports. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the virus possesses the ability to hide within the body’s tissues, resurfacing and receding time and time again. It is also able to mutate rapidly, in some cases changing completely from person to person. This is what allows the virus to become drug-resistant and is also why a vaccine has not been made. Safe sex is the best method to prevent HIV transmission, and the first step is being aware of your own body. There are many free sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening tests available, as well as affordable same-day testing at some private clinics. Once you know you are uninfected or are managing an STD with the guidance of your doctor, Planned Parenthood advises using a male or female condom, dental dam or other form of protection. However, it is still possible for a person who has HIV or another STD to have sex. The Terrence Higgins Trust states that using protection, clear communication and medical treatment can drastically reduce the risk of transmitting HIV between partners. Transmission of HIV can occur through unprotected sex, blood transfusions, passing of the virus from mother to fetus during pregnancy and sharing needles or other equipment used in intravenous drug use,

hiv.gov reports. According to The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), the only five body fluids that are capable of transmission are blood, semen (including precum), rectal fluid, vaginal fluid and breast milk. Any of these fluids can be passed to another person through broken skin, the opening of the penis or the wet linings of the body such as the vagina, rectum or foreskin. Contrary to persisting misconceptions, HIV cannot be spread by talking, shaking hands, hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, swimming pools, toilet seats or any other public interaction that is only capable of spreading a small amount of fluid, hiv.gov reports. By taking the initiative to inform new generations about preventable disease and safe sex practices, many people have been able to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS. However, many people across the world are still unaware of the illness in detail and the ways in which it can be avoided. Continuing to inform people about the disease, ways to prevent it and available treatment options are effective tools in reducing the number of transmissions and, in turn, the number of deaths. Although an effective cure that can be used to treat every patient has not yet been discovered, there have been two cases in which people living with HIV were cured. Timothy Ray Brown, known as The Berlin Patient, was the first person to ever be completely cured of HIV in 2008 with a stem cell transplant to treat leukemia, NCBI reports. In March 2019, a second person, referred to only as The London Patient, was cured of the infection with a bone marrow transplant.

2000 November 2002

The FDA “approves the first rapid diagnostic test kit for use in the United States.” The test provides results within 20 minutes with 99.6% accuracy.

March 2010

Former President Barack Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, which offers special protections for those with chronic illnesses, such as HIV. Under these protections, people living with HIV cannot be denied access to health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.

While such treatments are not likely to develop into a widespread cure, these two cases, in addition to the ever-increasing knowledge and spread of information, show that treatment is not impossible. For many, it provides hope.

HIV resources can be found at the following locations: Kent State University Deweese Health Center Free, confidential HIV testing for students, faculty and staff 330-672-2320 Planned Parenthood, Kent Health Center Offers HIV testing, education and referrals. Contact the center for pricing information. Some HIV services may be covered by your insurance. 330-678-3877 Community Aids Network / Akron Pride Initiative (CANAPI) Houses the SSOULE (Survivors Sharing Our Unique Life Experiences) Group which provides support and resources to those living with HIV. Call to RSVP. 330-794-5289 Equitas Health Akron Free, confidential HIV testing. Call to schedule an appointment. Walk-in: Wednesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. By appointment: Monday - Friday 330-333-7117 AHF Taskforce of Greater Cleveland Free, confidential HIV testing. AHF counselors are available on a walk-in basis. 216-357-3131

2010

2020

July 2012

The FDA approves the medication Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment. PrEP can be used by individuals who have had exposure to the virus to reduce their risk of contracting it.

March 2019

Following the case of the “Berlin Patient,” researchers announce that the “London Patient” has been successfully cured of HIV. The patient “received a bone marrow transplant from someone who is genetically immune to HIV” and has had no detectable HIV infection for the last three years.

FUSION SPRING 2020

Words by Alexandra Sobczak Photos by K Bodrock

“Sir.” “Daddy.” “Master.” “Mommy.” “Baby girl.” “Good girl.” “Mistress.” These are some of the many terms we normally associate with BDSM. But what about gender-neutral terms?

“Your majesty,” “my liege,” “pet,” “stud,” “bitch,” “puppy,” “kitten,” “precious” and “angel” are some of the terms that can be used for a person of any gender, says Stephanie Davis, the president of K.I.N.K. Kent State, also known as Kent Is Now Kinky. During sex, it is always important to be aware of how your partner wants to be addressed. “It changes (from) person to person,” Davis says. No matter what you are doing in the bedroom, safety and consent are crucial. K.I.N.K. Kent State discusses these concepts at nearly every one of their meetings. “Check up on your partner throughout a scene, no matter what you’re doing,” Davis says. “Make sure they’re doing well. Make sure they’re doing okay. And always have a safeword.” As sexual interests develop and change, it is important to communicate, research

properly and start things off slowly. Aftercare is also suggested after each scene, Davis says. Without it, submissives or dominants can experience what is known as a “sub and dom drop.” During this “depressive episode,” a submissive might think they deserve what is being done to them or the terms they are being called accurately describe them. At the same time, a dominant might think they are hurting their partner or being a bad person. “Just make sure everyone who’s involved is feeling good and is left with positive emotions,” Davis says. “Just make sure it is all good.” Safety is especially important during kinky sex, as sometimes kinks “can get a little dangerous,” she says. Davis recommends ensuring that people always have room to move, medical supplies are accessible if needed and toys are used with one specific partner to avoid sexually transmitted infections. “As long as everyone’s safe and happy, then it is all good,” Davis says. “It’s not as weird and out there as you think.”

FUSION SPRING 2020

Out Of The Shadows Shedding Light On Violence In Our Community

Words by Angela Molina

It is time to discuss an ugly truth: In the LGBTQ+ community, intimate partner violence persists. It is a common and dangerous misconception that domestic violence takes place exclusively in heterosexual relationships between cisgender men and women. In reality, LGBTQ+ individuals are just as, if not more, at risk of intimate partner violence. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about it.

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence:

2,144

44%

40%

1 in 3

reports of intimate partner violence against LGBTQ+ people were filed in 2017. The Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services found that between 960,000 and 3 million reports of intimate partner violence are reported annually in the general population.

of gay men have reported sexual assault at some point in their lifetime, compared to 21% of heterosexual men.

54%

of transgender individuals have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, compared to 20% of cisgender individuals.

of lesbians have reported experiencing rape, physical violence and/ or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, compared to 35% of heterosexual women.

bisexual women have reported stalking in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 6 heterosexual women.

Resources for LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline thehotline.org/help 800-799-7233 American Bar Association americanbar.org Know your legal rights as an LGBTQ+ survivor of domestic violence. The LGBT National Help Center glbthotline.org FORGE forge-forward.org Access services for transgender, gender nonconforming and nonbinary survivors of sexual violence. The Network La Red tnlr.org Work with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;survivor-led, social justice organizationâ&#x20AC;? that works to end intimate partner violence in LGBTQ+ communities.

FUSION SPRING 2020

'T O N D

Words by Natalia Cruz Illustration by Amanda Stayer Communication is critical to the success of any relationship. For someone who is not cisgender, being open about their gender identity can put them in danger. Unlike other members of the community, transgender and gender nonconforming people may have to worry about backlash or violence from their romantic partners due to their gender identity. This is a concern, as 54% of transgender and gender nonconforming Americans have experienced violence from their partner, according to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. In 41 states, someone not disclosing they are transgender or gender nonconforming can be an acceptable defense for assault or murder. This is known as the trans panic defense. The trans panic defense stems from the gay panic defense, which is when a person commits an act of violence because they discovered a person was gay. It is not clear when attorneys started using this as a defense, but before 1973, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders considered gay panic disorder to be real. Even after the American Psychological Association removed the diagnosis, the defense is still used. In 1954, the gay panic defense was used to try to defend Charles W. Lawrence when he murdered William T. Simpson in order to protect himself from an unwanted advancement, the American Bar Association reports. Although the defendant’s charges were lessened from murder to manslaughter, he was still convicted. Similar court cases have happened involving transgender people, such as the murder of Gwen Araujo. According to the National LGBT Bar Association, she had consensual sex with Michael Magidson and José Merel, and after they found out that she was

transgender, they violently murdered her. An investigator coached the men to use the trans panic defense. During the first trial, the jury deadlocked. By the end of the second trial, the men’s charges were lessened, but they were still convicted. Even though this was a victory for Araujo, it was too close to a miscarriage of justice. Currently, there is nothing in the works to ban the trans panic defense in Ohio. Therefore, it is vital to start these conversations within the legislative branch, so in the future, LGBTQ+ Ohioans will not have to worry about their identities being used against them. During the last General Assembly, House Bill 1 passed, which is designed to provide victims of intimate partner violence with more protections, according to the Ohio House of Representatives website. However, according to State Rep. Brigid Kelly of Ohio’s 31st district, representatives are trying to see how gender identity will fit into the law during the next General Assembly. While the skeleton of protection is already there, they need to add legislation that will include different gender identities. Of the other five representatives who responded, they either have not heard of the trans panic defense or believed that the Ohio Fairness Act should be prioritized over it. The Ohio Fairness Act, if passed, will explicitly prohibit employment, housing and public accomodations discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. Rep. Randi Clites of the 75th district says that once that step is done, they can improve other areas by introducing more bills related to LGBTQ+ safety. Further, House Bill 369, if passed, will expand civil rights laws to sexual orientation and gender identity.

I T 'S S T I L L M E Kelly feels strongly about getting these bills passed. “If we want people to come here, go to school here, stay here, work here, build a family here, we need to make sure folks are protected from discrimination,” Kelly says. Ohio lawmakers Rep. Jena Powell and Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus introduced the Save Women’s Sports Act Feb. 25, USA Today reports. This bill would prevent anyone who was assigned male at birth, but identifies as female, to participate in women’s high school sports. This bill does not cover transmasculine athletes. The act shows that right now in Ohio, there is a divide, but in other states, there has been progress on the issue of the trans panic defense. It often takes time for important bills to pass, and it may be a while until anything specific to the trans panic defense is introduced. Therefore, it is essential to remember that in order to see real change in Ohio for the LGBTQ+ community, representatives cannot work alone. There are many organizations, such as Equality Ohio and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, that are providing resources and information to the public to help get these bills passed. Even individual citizens who are not connected to a group can help by calling, emailing and writing their representatives. At the end of the day, despite their personal beliefs, it is their job to make sure their constituents are properly represented. Until actual legislative change happens in Ohio, transgender and gender nonconforming people will continue to face injustice in the courtroom.

FUSION SPRING 2020 FUSION SPRING 2020

Out There Studying Abroad As A Queer Person Words by Alexandra Sobczak Illustrations by Alyssa Maziarz

n China, former Kent State student George Curtis tried foods like jellyfish, eels and sea cucumbers, and he visited a panda preserve. Jessica Miller visited beaches and snorkeled in Kenting, Taiwan and toured some of the most culturally significant sites in South Korea. Alumna Rachel Wasbotten bartered at a souk and explored palace grounds in Marrakesh, Morocco.

These are just a few of the experiences of Kent State students who studied abroad, as seen on the Office of Global Education’s (OGE) website. With over 200 education abroad programs in more than 60 countries, Kent State’s OGE offers many destinations to choose from. Unfortunately, not all of these countries are LGBTQ+ friendly. China and South Korea are only 30% to 49% accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, according to data from Equal-

dex on a brochure provided by Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Center. Israel, another study abroad destination, is rated the same, while Brazil, Chile and Ireland are listed as being 50% to 69% accepting, which is also the same bracket that the United States falls in.

LGBTQ+ specific study abroad information. In addition to rating countries on how accepting they are of the LGBTQ+ community, the brochure also advises students to consider whether they will be in a place with inclusive medical care, a visible LGBTQ+ community and an accepting host family, if applicable.

This can present barriers for students who want to study abroad but are “Studying abroad as an LGBTQ+ student members of the LGBTQ+ community. gives you a golden opportunity to learn about yourself and your identity within “We had a student … who had reached the global context,” the brochure states. out,” says Ken Ditlevson, the director of the LGBTQ+ Center. “They Since then, Ditlevson has not had felt that they missed some oppor- any students reach out to him with tunities, because they felt like they these specific concerns, he says. might not be safe as someone from the LGBTQ community. And so they “I don’t know if they just find the bronever pursued studying abroad, but chure and are satisfied, or if it’s still an they wish that they would have.” issue that just isn’t well known. Or that LGBT people aren’t traveling because Upon receiving this feedback, the they’re fearful for that reason.” LGBTQ+ Center worked with the student and OGE to create a brochure with

FUSION SPRING 2020 OGE provides pre-departure orientations, but right now, there is no LGBTQ+ specific preparation information that is offered to students. “We don't necessarily have programs that we would specifically … encourage LGBTQ students to participate in. Overall, all of our programs are offered to any student,” says Amber Cruxton, the director of education abroad. Through advising within OGE, students can get a “personalized approach” to choosing a trip. If students disclose to advisors that they are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, then OGE can provide them with further discussion and resources, she says.

OGE also provides training to all faculty who lead study abroad trips, and LGBTQ+ specific information is included in that training, says Molly Merryman, the director of the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality. There are around 30 faculty-led trips that go to a variety of countries, including some that are not necessarily LGBTQ+ friendly, such as Brazil, Ireland and Morocco. In Morocco, same-sex behavior is illegal with threat of imprisonment.

Once Merryman and Vachon explained to security guards why the students wore chest binders, the situation settled. “There are those things that not everyone knows about,” Merryman says. “I do think that it’s important for students who are LGBTQ-identified to consider that when they’re choosing their trips, and depending on their level of comfort … to ask those questions of faculty and the international campuses they’re going to.”

“Some transgender travelers have reported difficulties entering a country on a passport bearing a name and photo that no longer correspond to their gender identity.”

“Ultimately, we rely on the information that the students provide to us and what they want to disclose to us,” she says. “If the student comes to us and discloses information, we can provide them with different resources.

Students can ask for help with things like passports and housing, because “something that may seem like a really simple step in the process to one student,” may be something that “a student from the LGBTQ community may have a hard time with,” Cruxton says. “We certainly want to welcome all students and provide … access to these programs,” she says. “We don't want anything to be a barrier.” OGE also works with other universities on a regional, state and national level to share research and ways they can help LGBTQ+ students. Recently, OGE has been working on gender-neutral housing, especially in relation to its Florence campus. Another university has been working on passport-related issues and resources. The universities, which meet twice a year, exchange information and methods they have adopted in relation to these issues.

Merryman, who is planning a study abroad trip to the United Kingdom, explained that on previous trips she has led, she has been particularly aware of the needs of LGBTQ+ students. Before a trip to Greece, she gave students who identified as transgender or genderqueer the first choice at room assignments, making sure they were comfortable with who they were paired up with. While on that same trip, there was a terrorist bombing in Brussels, Belgium, and airport security immediately got noticeably tighter, she says. She and Lauren Vachon, an assistant professor in the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality who was also on the trip, spoke to security guards about some of their concerns. “We had a couple of students who were wearing binders,” Merryman says. “We thought that there might be some heightened interest in them. We were able to communicate to the security guards … ‘If you’re going to search these students, we’ll be there.’ That de-escalated things, because they were planning on taking these students to separate rooms (to search them).”

Other potential issues LGBTQ+ students should prepare for are problems with passports and medical supplies.

“Some transgender travelers have reported difficulties entering a country on a passport bearing a name and photo that no longer correspond to their gender identity,” the United States Department of State warns on its website. There are resources listed that provide instructions on changing names and sex markers on passports.

Sometimes, medical supplies include needles for hormone replacement therapy. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) advises that all medical equipment in a carry-on bag must be screened. “If a bag must be opened by an officer to resolve an alarm, the traveler may ask that bags be screened in private,” the TSA website states. Although these issues may arise for LGBTQ+ students studying abroad, it is important to note that experiences within a given country vary greatly between foreigners and residents. Foreigners are often treated with more acceptance than locals, says Daina Ruduša, the senior communications manager for OutRight Action International, a non-profit organization that focuses on the human rights of LGBTQ+ people across the globe. OutRight Action International has not dealt with study abroad topics before, as it works specifically with LGBTQ+ organizations in various countries. Still, Ruduša could provide some advice for LGBTQ+ students who want to study abroad. Students must keep in mind that the policies and laws of a country do not necessarily match the societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people, she says. Students can research societal attitudes in the countries they will be visiting by using information provided by civil societies, Wikipedia, news stories and LGBTQ+ orga-

nizations within the country. She also advises that students know where the closest United States embassy is, in case they find themselves in an unsafe situation. One there knew

student acknowledged that were things she wished she before studying abroad.

Sarah Suntheimer, a sophomore mathematics and political science major, has studied abroad in Israel and Palestine with Hillel, Poland with the Jewish studies program and the Czech Republic. She has most recently studied at the Kent campus in Florence, Italy, before all study abroad students were sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kent State is working to increase the number of study abroad participants within the LGBTQ+ community. OGE offers the Diversity in Education Abroad Scholarship to financially assist students in “underrepresented” groups, according to its website. These groups include ethnic and racial minorities, those registered with the Student Accessibility Services Office, those with high financial need, firstgeneration students, underrepresented majors within study abroad programs, student athletes and LGBTQ+ students. “My advice for queer people studying abroad is to do it,” Suntheimer says. “There’s so much you learn about yourself.”

Identifying as pansexual, Suntheimer expressed some concerns she had before studying abroad. “I was worried that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to pursue (the queer) part of my identity,” she says. “But I realized really quickly … There’s places to be found everywhere you go that are safe places for queer people. Just being able to identify those places … was super eye-opening for me.” Suntheimer says she experienced acceptance, not mistreatment, in other countries. “I learned that I could be myself in all of my identity while abroad and still be accepted and treated kindly,” she says.

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f O s e g n e l l y a t h e f C e Sa h g T n i k See

Words By Moira Armstrong | Illustrations By Abigail Silvis

“A

contradictory experience,” CNN calls LGBTQ+ life in Latin America. Despite progressive laws, the region has high rates of violence against queer people, and the percentage of citizens who feel that homosexuality should be criminalized hovers around 40% or higher in most Latin American countries.

These feelings are often expressed through violence, according to Reuters. A recent report describes that in El Salvador and Honduras, gangs frequently target the LGBTQ+ community. For example, a transgender woman named Cristel was forced to flee in 2014 after one gang threatened to kill her, and Honduran local rights group Cattrachas cites that at least 264 queer people have been killed in the last decade. Under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, persecution and hate crimes based on sexuality or gender are grounds for asylum claims. However, the process of trying to claim that asylum can be just as dangerous as the circumstances they are fleeing.

USA, reveals that not only do Mexican officials typically fail to protect these individuals from discrimination and abuse, but they are also often the perpetrators. Refugees are rarely given proper information about their right to asylum in Mexico and sometimes are actively discouraged from applying. Migrants typically travel to the United States next. Due to current political circumstances, they often are detained in border camps, a difficult situation that has adverse, or even deadly, effects on mental and physical health, the American Psychological Association and NBC News report. However, the situation is even worse for LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2017, a letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, from Rep. Kathleen Rice revealed disproportionately poor treatment of LGBTQ+ people in these camps, according to American Progress. LGBTQ+ immigrants are held in detention for double the amount of time, in less safe conditions and at greater risk for sexual violence than other migrants. For example, although LGBTQ+ people represented 0.14% of those detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2017, they accounted for 12% of the victims of reported sexual abuse and assault. This makes them 97 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence than cisgender, heterosexual people.

“‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free’ needs to apply to LGBTQ+ refugees too.” First, migrants need a method of transportation. One of the safest options is a caravan, like the one that reached the United States last fall. According to the BBC, this stems from the idea of safety in numbers. Sex traffickers and drug gangs often kidnap individual migrants and force them into labor, but large groups are harder to target and thus offer much more protection than traveling as an individual or even a family. However, caravans do not provide that kind of security for LGBTQ+ travelers. Erick Dubon, a 23-year-old Honduran migrant, faced mistreatment on his way to the United States with his boyfriend. “We were discriminated against, even in the caravan,” Dubon told the Huffington Post. “People wouldn’t let us into trucks, they made us get in the back of the line for showers, they would call us ugly names.” Next, migrants from Central and South America enter Mexico, where the situation often does not improve. Gang influence typically crosses the border, so discrimination and violence continue. Additionally, “No Safe Place,” a recent study from Amnesty

The consequences of such treatment can be fatal. According to American Progress, Laura, a queer asylum seeker whose sexual assault had no consequences for the guard who attacked her, attempted suicide in 2018. That same year, CNN reports that Roxana, a 33-year-old transgender woman, died of medical negligence in the Cibola County Correctional Facility. Others were simply deported, returned to the very countries they tried to escape, which as Public Radio International reports, have high rates of homophobia- and transphobia-motivated violent crimes, including murder.

to be her family. Unfortunately, she says LGBTQ+ people are “not welcomed” in the camps. There is poor treatment from other migrants – she recounted the story of a gay couple whose tent was urinated on – and overall isolation, which can become a barrier to leaving the camps. Candia says that living arrangements are easier and safer in a pair or group, but that is often not an option for LGBTQ+ migrants who have not been able to make connections with others. She tries to clearly express to the rest of the camp that respect and support are necessary, and she works with other groups to create solutions to these problems. For example, the liaison for the Texas Civil Rights Project can connect migrants with resources and LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the United States and Mexico. She provides every LGBTQ+ migrant with a cell phone and adds them to a group chat that keeps them updated on protests, emergencies and other relevant situations. Candia also feels that awareness is key. A transgender migrant whom she is sponsoring “holds herself high.” “She’s proud of who she is and how far she’s come, and I just love her for that,” Candia says. “She and I just walking around the camp would show the awareness of the love that is there, that they need to love also the LGBT community.” She is also optimistic about the attitude of these queer migrants. Candia says, “They’re holding their own and it’s awesome.” She encourages everyone to vote and, if possible, volunteer to help these individuals “until everybody is across.” Overall, every stage of the immigration process can be fraught with danger for queer migrants. The journey and final destination need to be safer for these individuals. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free” needs to apply to LGBTQ+ refugees too.

Cindy Candia, who works with Angry Tias and Abuelas, has spent more time in the camps than any other volunteer from the advocacy group, the website states. Her organization runs free stores in the camps that provide basic necessities such as toothpaste, shampoo and food and are managed by asylum seekers. She has encountered LGBTQ+ migrants before and, as the mother of a gay daughter, considers the community

FUSION SPRING 2020

Prid

Treating Patients With

Words by Moira Armstrong Illustrations by Abigail Silvis

he average American visits the doctor four times per year, Forbes reports. From checkups and dental cleanings to treatment for sickness and the input of specialists, healthcare providers are an important part of life in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites regular doctor visits as the most important factor in detecting health problems early, which leads to quicker, more effective treatment and longer lifespans. However, the LGBTQ+ community tends to postpone or avoid seeking help altogether out of fear. Lighthouse, an LGBTQ+ affirming provider, reports that over 50% of the LGBTQ+ population has faced some kind of discrimination in healthcare, a dangerous statistic considering the higher rates of mental health issues, sexually transmitted infections and diseases, cer-

tain types of cancers and obesity than the general population, reports the National Institutes of Health. The American Medical Association also supports LGBTQ+ individuals with a multitude of policies that guide practitioners toward inclusive and respectful treatment of LGBTQ+ patients. These include strategies for enhancing diversity in the workplace, a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” behaviors, encouragement to research LGBTQ+ related health issues and a general stance of nondiscrimination. However, the state of LGBTQ+ healthcare is declining. According to Human Rights Watch, in May 2017, the United States Department of Health and Human Services rolled back protections for transgender people in federally funded healthcare programs and proposed regulations that protected moral or religious objections to

treating minorities, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, in February, South Dakota considered a bill that would make it a felony for medical practitioners to provide gender-affirming care to youths, including puberty blockers, hormones, surgeries and more. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas have all proposed similar legislation. According to the Movement Advancement Project, Ohio fares no better. Here, there are no laws ensuring LGBTQ+ insurance protections. Additionally, state Medicaid and employee insurance policies explicitly exclude transgender health coverage. Thankfully, local hospitals and healthcare professionals are working to move the field toward a friendlier culture.

Local Inclusive Care Akron Children’s Hospital Center for Gender Affirming Medicine • Provides pubertal suppression, hormone therapy, mental health care and more • Multidisciplinary team

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital • Does not have an official center, but still provides services and resources • Has been named a “leader in LGBTQ care” by the Human Rights Campaign

Summa Health’s Pride Clinic

• Located in Akron • Has a specially trained staff and encourages “do ask, do tell” to develop openness between providers and patients

MetroHealth

• Network of locations throughout Northeast Ohio • First LGBTQ+ friendly clinic in the Cleveland area • Member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health • Plans to expand in 2020

FUSION SPRING 2020 FUSION SPRING 2020

At Akron Children’s Hospital, the Center for Gender Affirming Medicine, which opened in 2019, provides pubertal suppression, hormone therapy, mental health care, wellness checks, preventative care and educational programs to transgender patients and the community. Their multidisciplinary team includes a social worker, nurse coordinator, mental health professional and endocrinologist in addition to nurses and doctors. Carole Becerra, director of Inclusion and Diversity, says, “At Akron Children’s Hospital, one of our three promises is to treat every child as we would our own. We pride ourselves on being able to offer compassionate care to children and young people regardless of their sexual identity … We hope our efforts to be inclusive can serve as an example to other healthcare institutions in our region.” Additionally, Dr. Stephen Sondike, director of Adolescent Medicine – which oversees the Center – says that the goal is to try to “set the tone from the beginning” through signs such as preferred names and pronouns, symbols of support at the desk and gender-neutral language. Dr. Elizabeth Miller, the chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and Young Adult Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, is another leader in the effort to aid LGBTQ+ patients. While her institution does not have an official center, it provides services and resources and has been named a “leader in LGBTQ care” by the Human Rights Campaign. “Creating inclusive spaces throughout the hospital is good for the care we pro-

vide our patients overall,” she says. “As we encourage ourselves to continuously improve our environment so that everyone feels included, we communicate empathy and compassion that is the hallmark of our care.” Access to accepting environments early on helps combat the higher risk for suicide, homelessness and other issues faced by the transgender community, the Williams Institute reports. But, these services are not exclusive to children’s or adolescent healthcare. Summa Health’s Pride Clinic, located in Akron, has a specially trained staff and encourages “do ask, do tell” to develop openness between providers and patients. Additionally, MetroHealth’s network of locations throughout Northeast Ohio has a long history serving the community. MetroHealth had the first LGBTQ+ friendly clinics in the Cleveland area and is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Dr. Mark McLoney, a provider at MetroHealth’s PRIDE Clinics, says that in 2020, the clinic will expand. It will add more locations, increase hours and hire additional providers “who are trained in the area of LGBTQ+ health care, providers who have a strong commitment to the community.” He also wrote in an email that not every provider has a resource like the clinic to connect with, but that does not mean they cannot be supportive. “Physicians who wish to help the LGBTQ+ population, but are not connected to a center specifically treating this population, can look into the GLMA [Gay and Les-

bian Medical Association] and the WPATH [World Professional Association for Transgender Health] for additional training,” he wrote. In order to ensure that this growing specialization can continue, colleges and universities are beginning to offer programs specifically for medical students who want to focus on LGBTQ+ populations. For instance, at the University of Pittsburgh Center for LGBT Health Research, students can earn a certificate in LGBT Public Health. Coursework includes history of the field, an overview of common health issues in the LGBTQ+ population, a review of intervention theories, cultural competency, critical thinking and practical experience. Dr. Mackey Friedman, Ph.D., describes a “seismic shift” in local health systems’ readiness to work with LGBTQ+ people since he first became involved in the center 15 years ago. “But there are communities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella who report much less acceptance from healthcare systems, especially LGBTQ+ communities of color, bisexual people and trans people,” he says. “There is a profound need for our health systems to integrate mental health, substance use and socially supportive activities so that we can effectively treat not only disease, but the social determinants, such as stigma, marginalization and isolation that promote disease risk.” The Center’s work attempts to fill these gaps. We must work until those gaps are filled.

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FUSION SPRING 2020

Queer People of Color Words by Natalia Cruz Photos by K Bodrock

ome attribute the beginning of the queer liberation movement to transgender people of color. Currently, there are places that are not made with people of color in mind, and queer people of color may find themselves left out of the modern-day narrative. Other issues may include the fetishization of minorities and racism in LGBTQ+ communities.

Due to the intersection of identities, things are very different for queer people of color, and their struggles cannot be equated to the white LGBTQ+ experience. Hearing their stories can shed a light on how the community can better welcome those who are different from them.

Kollin - He/Him “It is a big thing in the community to fetishize black people, which is not good.

Sometimes, I get stares. I get looks. I get comments. But I don’t let it affect me.

Black people in their community are very homophobic. I am not saying everyone is, but a lot of them are. And we experience that. It’s a little more quiet, a bit under the radar, but it is definitely there.

I remember I one time walked into a gay bar, and it was a lot of white dudes. And I was like, ‘You know what, let me turn around and walk out,’ because I didn’t feel like there was anybody there to represent me.”

John Kraus - He/Him

"Currently, there are places that are not made with people of color in mind, and queer people of color may find themselves left out of the modern-day narrative."

“Growing up as an ethnic minority as well as a member of the LGBTQ community, I have faced more than most. On the front of being an Asian American, I have faced blatant racism, as well as physical attacks. One time, when I was around 11 years old, walking through a parking lot, an older white man threw chopsticks at me. I have been followed around stores when others my age who are white have not been and have been told many times to go back to my own

country. Growing up as a gay man in America has also been a challenge. Throughout all of middle school, I was bullied for being gay even before I knew I was. ... I struggled heavily with being depressed and self-worth. However, through it all, I would not change a single thing. I have become the strong and independent person I am today through all of the hardship I have faced, and I'm proud and unapologetic of who I am.”

Mena Ruffin - They/Them “I’m intersex, and one of the reasons my family didn’t feel comfortable with telling me was because I’m black, and there is a lot of stigma around being intersex. I accept it more now, but too many times we make too many assumptions. I definitely share the experience where people don’t see me as queer, and that’s frustrating, because I am.

I am meeting people who don’t have a lot of experiences with black people or queer people. It’s all love at the end of the day, you know? We want love and respect like anyone else. I only went to Pride once, and when I was there, I saw one person of color. And it was my only friendly interaction. I felt that no one even looked at me.

I feel like it is something that I shouldn’t I was there because I had queer exhide, as you can’t understand me un- periences I’ve been wanting to share, less you understand my blackness wanting to celebrate. And it was like ‘Oh, I might as well go home.’ One day and my queerness at the same time. I’ll go back to Pride.” It has definitely been frustrating when

FUSION SPRING 2020

ISLAND OF LESBOS

Etymology: < (a) classical Latin Lesbius of or belonging to Lesbos (especially with reference to Sappho and her poetry, to wine, and to architecture), or its etymon (b) ancient Greek Λέσβιος of or belonging to Lesbos ( < Λέσβος , the name of the island of Lesbos + -ιος , suffix forming adjectives) + -an suffix. Referred to as the 10th Muse by some ancients, Sappho was a Greek poet from the seventh century B.C.. She came from the island of Lesbos in the North Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern-day Turkey. She composed lyrical verses and wrote tales, myths, hymns to the gods and marriage songs. Best known for her verses of love, Sappho often wrote about passion and desire towards women.

long lines followed by a short fourth. It gained much popularity in her time, and it is still used to this day, according to the Academy of American Poets. Sappho’s poems are renowned for their imagery of women, and they leave much to the reader’s imagination. She often forgoes describing a physical woman, choosing instead to show a moment in time. She evokes the essence of femininity, creating an image out of a scent, a flower or an emotion. With her words, she paints a world of desire, beauty, soft whispers and caresses.

pho:

In ancient Greece, women’s lives were less documented, so it is hard to say exactly what life was like for them. The Ancient History Encyclopedia explains that the documentation that does exist was mostly written from the male perspective. It is commonly believed that many women were limited to being wives and homemakers. The New Yorker reports that women of lower classes would receive little to no formal education, and women with artistic talent were often regarded with suspicion by men. Sappho, however, managed to express her artistic passions through poetry. She wrote in a specific style now known as the “Sapphic stanza.” The Sapphic stanza, as stated by the New Yorker, is composed of three

A line from one of her poem fragments reads, “A beautiful face staring back at me, stained with love.”

appho: Island of Lesbos Words and Photos by K Bodrock

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Deathless Aphrodite, throned in flowers, Daughter of Zeus, O terrible enchantress, With this sorrow, with this anguish, break my spirit Lady, not longer! Hear anew the voice! O hear and listen! Come, as in that island dawn thou camest, Billowing in thy yoked car to Sappho Forth from thy father's Golden house in pity! ... I remember: Fleet and fair thy sparrows drew thee, beating Fast their wings above the dusky harvests, Down the pale heavens,

â&#x20AC;?

"Ode to Aphrodite," Sappho

FUSION SPRING 2020

Letter s From o s l e C t e T h T “

Illustration by Emily Loccisano Everytime I see a video or movie or a clip from a TV show about someone coming out to their family, I cry. I will burst into tears, because I know that even though the families I see on television are kind and supportive, I know that you won’t be. I know that it will hurt our relationship, and I am so scared to see how much. I don’t know how to tell you that I am bisexual. I don’t understand why you can’t understand. I am the same person I have always been, but I’m afraid that when I tell you that you won’t be able to see me as anything but that. That even though you raised me to be smart, independent, kind, and loving, that somehow you’ll not be able to look past my sexual orientation.

”

Scan the code to finish reading this letter from the closet.

Letters From the Closet is an outlet for members of the LGBTQ+ community who are not out publicly to tell their stories. Anyone who is not out of the closet can submit a letter to be published and shared through Fusion anonymously. This allows for voices of the closeted community to be heard, while allowing other members of the community to read and relate to their stories.

Want to send in a letter? Submit your letters to: ohiofusion.com/contact

39 39

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Discovering Myself Through Another Questions about cosplay are inevitable when you dress up as characters from your favorite media for fun. But for me, cosplaying was more than just fun. The diverse cosplay community allows for selfexploration, and it helped me discover who I am, what I am comfortable with and what acceptance feels like. Cosplay is a hobby in which the artists, or models, dress up as characters from various forms of media, such as anime, cartoons, television shows, books and movies. People even bring their own original characters to life. It is endless! Many cosplayers also engage in roleplaying as characters in music videos and at cosplay conventions. That is where the name comes from – a combination of costuming and roleplay.

As a transgender man, this made way for a lot of exploration when it came to my gender identity. Although my first cosplay was feminine, it is normalized within the community for cosplayers to dress as any character they want regardless of their gender identity. It was a window I leapt through, because nobody in "real life" told me I could up and crossdress any day of the week. My second cosplay was a version of a male character. I was able to wear a wig with shorter hair than my own, apply typically masculine contour with makeup and wear a binder for the first time. I had never purposefully tried to look like a man until then. I look back at the photos and cringe a bit, as I was only 13 at the time, and I have made progress in the six years since then.

Social Lingerie The first time I met Hana Baran, she was wearing a grey Calvin Klein sports bra, a matching pair of shorts and nothing else. I do not know why this surprised me. She is, after all, the CEO of a lingerie company. But I was surprised, and pleasantly so, because she did not apologize for being indecent or throw on a T-shirt. She was so unabashedly comfortable in her body that I found myself relaxing too. Baran, a sophomore fashion merchandising major at Kent State, founded and ran the eco-friendly, body-positive brand Social Lingerie out of her dorm room her freshman year. Since then, the brand has grown to a creative team of nine and prides itself on being “the first all-inclusive lingerie brand in existence,” its website states. This means the brand accepts anyone who approaches them to model, no matter what they look like or what factors caused them to be turned down for modeling jobs in the past. 40

Words by David Sparling, Contributor Illustration by Emily Loccisano But I do remember that the euphoria I felt was unimaginable. Cosplay is coping. It helped me find who I was, aids me in alleviating gender dysphoria and supports me through everything I go through. It is a wonderful way to find people similar to you in both identity and interests, and it can add an element of fun, unity or self-exploration to your life.

To read the full essay, visit ohiofusion.com.

Words by Lyndsey Brennan, Contributor Photo by Thomas Chimney, Contributor

“I gravitate toward people who love themselves unapologetically, and I wanted more people represented,” Baran says. “We’re all so fucking sexy.” The goal of Social Lingerie is to encourage people of all sizes, races, gender expressions and sexual orientations “to share their bodies, even when society doesn’t encourage them to,” Baran says. This was evident at Social Lingerie’s Valentine’s Day fashion show Feb. 14, where a diverse group of models walked the runway to the thunderous, enthusiastic response of the students in attendance. As each model strutted past, the audience clapped, whistled and shouted affirmations. The models responded by walking more powerfully, hitting their poses with more emphasis or lifting their chins with confidence. Some of them, taken by surprise at the response, broke character and looked amused. A few even smiled.

To read the full story, visit ohiofusion.com.

Let's Get Something Straight Coming Out Is On You, Not Anyone Else. Words by David Burgett, Contributor Photo by Amanda Stayer

wish someone would have told me how painful coming out would be.

The journey has been anything but easy. It has been challenging, frustrating, confusing and discouraging. Although I have faced disappointing treatment, I do have supportive family and friends, and I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, whether it be good or bad. The truth is I am gay. For those of you who know me, it is not a big surprise. I obsess over Katy Perry and ooze over the show “Glee,” but just by looking at me, you could not tell. I have been gay all my life, and there is nothing I can do to change it. When I was in junior high, I felt alone and terrified. On Sundays, I prayed the gay away, because I thought I was going to hell. I was confused, and I had absolutely no one to turn to. Even at a young age, family members told me I should not be “queer,” always bending their wrists while they said it. For years, I was in denial. I tried convincing myself I was straight by dating girls. I even had a serious relationship with someone for over a year. Eventually, I started to come out towards the end of high school. It was terrifying to finally hear myself say it aloud for the first time. When I first came out, it was to someone I love, and they said, “I have known gay people all of my life and been friends with them. I don’t think you’re gay. If you are, we will get through it.” This person claimed they did a good job when I came out, but they later told me they do not remember me coming out at all. I understand it can be painful for people to hear for the first time, but to not remember it is unacceptable. I love them deeply, but from a place of ignorance, they continued to hurt me.

They said being gay is only a small part of who I am, and I should not ever tell my grandparents – they have to die without knowing. I do not understand why a person who loves me so much would say that. Something that troubled me recently was when they got me a large framed poster of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” album cover, in which she lies atop clouds naked, and said, “Keep this under your bed, and don’t tell.” When I first came out to someone else, the initial conversation was positive, but what came later was frustrating. They told me multiple times that if I came out to anyone else, they were “going to punch (me) in the gut.” Further emphasizing their point, on New Year’s Eve years ago, they said, “Cheers to another year of not telling.” It hurt. But since then, this person has come around and supports me.

“Cheers to another year of not telling.” Coming out to other people has proven to be easier, but there have still been challenges. My friends supported me, but that does not mean they have not outed me or talked behind my back. I had a friend ask my roommate how it was living with someone who is gay and if he was worried about changing in front of me. I hope those who made ignorant comments or outed me in the past understand how harmful it is.

At the end of it all, I wish the journey would be over, but I still need to come out to my extended family. I know some of them will treat me differently and not accept me for who I am. If you are still struggling to come out, wait until you are ready. You owe it to yourself. You did not struggle only for others to gossip and share your truth. You only have one chance to come out to the world, and absolutely no one should ever take that right away from you. If I had to do it all over again, I would say it loud and proud. I am proud to be gay, but throughout this process, I learned to be strong and to love myself even when it feels impossible. I want you to remember to love yourself too.

FUSION SPRING 2020

An Op-Ed Words by Jordin Manning, Contributor

riginally, Pride festivals were not the bank-sponsored, police-run, whitewashed parties they are now. In fact, the very first Pride was not a party at all. The Stonewall riots were a protest. Everyone wants to claim they know who threw the first brick that night, but it seems people forget who caused it to be thrown in the first place. Police harassed members of the LGBTQ+ community for decades, prodding for identification and putting many in danger, Fusion reports. The same police who sicced dogs on my grandparents’ generation and harassed Stonewall veterans are now marching on the streets and perpetuating the same police brutality against LGBTQ+ people displayed only decades ago, according to Pride Legal. While some say what has happened was in the past, they neglect to realize the past shapes the present. If we do not acknowledge our past, we can severely hurt our future.

ginalized people. While redlining black and brown people and refusing to uphold protections for LGBTQ+ employees, corporations use rainbow products to distract the public from their bigotry behind the curtain. Those impacted are still alive to tell the tale. As Winston Churchill said, “History is written by the victors.” Police have been made into a pinnacle of justice and righteousness, yet time and time again, they failed to protect and serve those who needed it most. What is to be done about police brutality in the LGBTQ+ community? How can we ensure safety during Pride events, while holding police and the state accountable?

Law enforcement and the government have waged war on marginalized people for centuries, seen in the forms of segregation, the war on drugs, the neglect of the AIDS epidemic, the displacement of Native Americans and transphobic and homophobic violence.

Columbus Community Pride (CCP) answers these questions year after year. The event occurred as a response to the Black Pride Four, a group of people arrested at Columbus Pride for protesting a police shooting of an unarmed black man the previous year, The Appeal reports. CCP was created to foster an inclusive environment for people of all ages to celebrate and remember those in the LGBTQ+ community. It screens the security forces it hires and trains people to respond to crisis. It also provides childcare at the event and accessibility for disabled people.

Banks and corporations have also been instrumental in the oppression of mar-

All who sponsor and participate in CCP are doing their best to unlearn rac-

ist, ableist, transphobic, homophobic and many other bigoted ideologies to ensure all feel included during Pride month. CCP holds planning committees, movie screenings, speeches and educational opportunities before the event, so community members can inform themselves on issues, according to its website. Organizations like CCP and the Black Panther Party (BPP) are examples of how marginalized communities can protect and serve themselves without police intervention. The BPP, known for protecting low-income black neighborhoods, is responsible for the WIC program, as its efforts to feed women, infants and children inspired the program’s creation, according to history.com. Community efforts have proven to be effective, the Encyclopedia Britannica states, as they are able to help marginalized people without the use of terror and intimidation tactics displayed in the police force. While Pride is a celebration of how far we have progressed, it is also a demonstration of our power. We do not need to be validated by the approval of banks or police. Our existence alone is powerful, and the best people to protect us are ourselves. There is power in the people. That is truly worth celebrating.

LGBTQ+ Center

Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

+ LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER+ CENTER

Fusion Magazine, Spring 2020

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